XABI ALONSO is set to become the new manager of Bundesliga club Borussia Monchengladbach.
Meanwhile Arsenal are said to be “so happy” with Martin Odegaard and want to extend his stay at the club beyond the summer.
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SPECIAL NO1
Tottenham are set to lie back and think of England if it comes to signing a new keeper this summer.
Dean Henderson, Nick Pope and Sam Johnstone are in Gareth Southgate’s Three Lions squad that met up on Monday.
And the trio are all on Spurs’ shortlist to replace Hugo Lloris as their No 1.
The club captain, who delivered a stunning outburst at Jose Mourinho’s squad after last week’s Europa League exit to Dinamo Zagreb, has just a year left on his deal.
He is tipped to want to return home to France his summer, leaving Spurs looking closer to home for a successor.
PS-GLEE
PSG are reportedly ready to rival Barcelona for Memphis Depay.
Mundo Deportivo claims Mauricio Pochettino is a big fan of the Lyon striker.
And he is keen to raid PSG’s rivals for their star man this summer.
Manchester United flop Depay, 27, is out of contract at the end of the campaign and will be available on a free transfer.
Barcelona were thought to be leading the race for his signature, with boss Ronald Koeman making Depay one of his key players during his time managing the Netherlands.
But joining PSG would allow Depay to stay in France, where he’s resided since January 2017.
PS-GLEE
PSG are reportedly ready to rival Barcelona for Memphis Depay.
Mundo Deportivo claims Mauricio Pochettino is a big fan of the Lyon striker.
And he is keen to raid PSG’s rivals for their star man this summer.
Manchester United flop Depay, 27, is out of contract at the end of the campaign and will be available on a free transfer.
Barcelona were thought to be leading the race for his signature, with boss Ronald Koeman making Depay one of his key players during his time managing the Netherlands.
But joining PSG would allow Depay to stay in France, where he’s resided since January 2017.
BLUE’S NOT THE COLOUR
Thomas Tuchel has been coated by officials for giving them colour blindness on the touchline.
Chelsea’s new manager has been ordered to change his club-issue puffer jacket twice during games recently because it has been confusing the fourth officials and assistant referees.
Eagle-eyed TV viewers may have noticed that Tuchel spent the first half of Chelsea’s goalless draw at Leeds ten days ago pacing up and down his technical area and keeping out the chill Yorkshire air in a ‘traditional’ dark blue coat.
The German emerged for the second 45 minutes in the much paler ‘Arctic’ colour of the away kit.
And the reason is not because Tuchel thought the lighter blue brought out the best in his eyes or complemented his tracksuit bottoms.
He was ordered to change by dizzy fourth official Anthony Taylor.
Taylor and ref Kevin Friend’s assistants were having trouble distinguishing Tuchel from his players because of the colour clash with the shirts of the Chelsea players on the pitch – particularly when they were peering along the touchline during play.
It was the same when Tuchel was asked to switch jackets in only his third game in charge when he took Chelsea to London rivals Tottenham in early February.
Luckily, there was a spare coat hanging around in the kit bag for 6ft 4in Tuchel to slip into.
COUT AND DRIED
Barcelona are reportedly desperate to offload Philippe Coutinho this summer – to avoid paying Liverpool another £17million.
The cash-strapped Spaniards are poised for a hectic summer of transfer activity after the coronavirus pandemic decimated finances.
And according to Mundo Deportivo, Coutinho is one player set to exit the Nou Camp – likely on loan.
As part of the £142m deal that took him from Liverpool to Barca, £17m would be paid when the player reached 100 games.
That was one of FIFTEEN clauses in the agreement.
He has so far played 90 times.
The Brazilian has endured a nightmare spell at the Nou Camp since his move to LaLiga.
Coutinho, 28, spent last season on loan with Bayern Munich who turned down the opportunity to sign him permanently.
He has been on the periphery of the Barca first-team this season making just eight LaLiga starts.
HAARD EXIT
Man Utd have been given a boost in their pursuit of Erling Haaland – with the striker set to QUIT this summer if Borussia Dortmund miss out on the Champions League, according to reports.
The Norwegian wonderkid, 20, showed his frustration on Saturday as he stormed off the pitch following his side’s 2-2 draw with Koln.
Haaland scored twice including a last-gasp equaliser to salvage a point for his side.
But he was left fuming as he hurled his shirt aside and raced down the tunnel.
Dortmund now sit fifth in the Bundesliga, a massive 18 points adrift of leaders Bayern Munich.
Worryingly, they’re four points adrift of Eintracht Frankfurt in the final Champions League spot.
And now, AS have claimed Haaland could walk away from Dortmund this summer, with Man Utd and Real Madrid poised, if they miss out on a seat at Europe’s top table.
The Spanish publication has even claimed Haaland has spoken to his agent, Mino Raiola, to make it crystal clear he wants to quit if Champions League football is off the table at the Westfalenstadion.
THE PAT RACE
Man Utd and Arsenal and Arsenal are locked in a transfer battle for RB Leipzig striker Patson Daka.
The 22-year-old Zambian international has scored 20 goals in just 18 Austrian Bundesliga games so far this season.
And, according to Salzburger Nachrichten, his performances have caught the eye of numerous Premier League clubs including Man Utd, Arsenal, Liverpool and Manchester City.
Daka, who netted 27 times last season and has already equalled that tally in all competitions this time around, has spoken before about his admiration for those in the English top flight.
Back in January, he told BBC Sport: “To see our big brothers like Aubameyang, Salah and Mane, it’s something that gives me the dream that I can also make it.
“I can be like them. They are my inspiration, knowing that they also come from Africa.
“I think when people are making those kind of comparisons, it’s great, looking at the status of Sadio Mane, the kind of football he plays and the kind of person that he is.”
ZLAT’S MY BOY
Zlatan Ibrahimovic broke down in tears after being asked what his family thought of his return for Sweden.
The AC Milan star revealed his youngest son Vincent cried when he left him for international duty.
Ibrahimovic said: “Vincent really cried when I left him. But now it’s okay.
“I have two little ones at home who kick the ball around, my wife asks me to tell them to stop but I say no, we can buy new things if they break them.”
The former Manchester United star decided to come out of international retirement to lead Sweden at this summer’s rescheduled Euro 2020.
The 39-year-old retired from international duty in 2016 but has decided to have another crack.
Ibrahimovic held a press conference on Monday following his return for Sweden.
The striker was emotional after being asked about his family’s reaction to his return.
GUNNER GET HIM
Arsenal are looking to sign Martin Odegaard permanently at the end of the season, reports say.
The playmaker signed in January on loan from Real Madrid, and has made a huge impact on the field and in training.
So much so that according to Fabrizio Romano, Arsenal will talk to Madrid bosses on a permanent deal at the end of the season.
And Bernabeu boss Zinedine Zidane’s future at the club is said to be ‘key’ in Odegaard future.
PARTY POOPED
Belgium striker Tuur Dierckx has been sent to PRISON … for holding a lockdown party.
The former Club Brugge and Belgium Under-21 ace currently plays for KVC Westerlo.
But the second-tier promotion hopefuls will now be without their star after a court sentenced him to a month behind bars for breaking coronavirus rules.
According to Nieuwsblad a judge in Antwerp heard how police raided the player’s flat in the city last December after neighbours reported a late-night gathering.
They found 14 guests, including four other footballers and three women from Holland.
Dierckx told the court he has recently spent a day at a hospital seeing Covid-19 patients receive treatment, and recognised his mistake in hosting the party.
Prosecutors had called for him to be locked up for three months and fined £3,600.
But the court handed him a month-long jail term and a £700 fine, while his guests were fined lesser amounts.
His lawyer Carl De Munck said: “It was a harsh sentence, but in line with the verdicts in similar cases.”
CUT PRICE KOULI
Everton have joined Manchester United in the race to sign Napoli defender Kalidou Koulibaly.
Napoli are reportedly prepared to cut the hefty £89million price tag for Koulibaly.
According to Football Insider, Everton have set their sights on the Napoli defender and are ready to make an offer for him.
But the Toffees will face plenty of competition for the powerful centre-back if they are to sign him.
Manchester United are keen on Koulibaly and it appears Napoli are prepared to lower their asking price.
The Italians rejected a £95m offer from the Red Devils in 2018 but reportedly could consider a bid of around £39m this summer.
The pandemic has crippled the financial position of clubs across Europe and Napoli are set to accept a significantly lower offer for Koulibaly.
KEAN ON MOISE
Everton could be offered a player-plus cash by Juventus for their former striker Moise Kean.
The Toffees shipped out the 21-year-old to PSG on loan for the season after a fruitless spell on Merseyside.
But Kean has done well in France, scoring 11 goals in 20 appearances.
While he is behind the likes of Kylian Mbappe and Mauro Icardi, Kean has looked a lot sharper.
According to Tutto Mercato, his form has alerted his old club Juventus.
They are reportedly prepared to offer Douglas Costa or former Arsenal star Aaron Ramsey as a makeweight in any deal.
ODE TO ERLING
Arsenal fans want ‘agent’ Martin Odegaard to convince Erling Haaland to join the club.
Norway team-mates Odegaard and Haaland were spotted chatting in training and Gunners fans are eyeing a cheeky move.
Odegaard has been a revelation since joining Arsenal on loan from Real Madrid.
But now optimistic Gunners fans have encouraged Odegaard to have a word with Borussia Dortmund star Haaland about moving to London.
Fans described their midfielder as ‘Agent Odegaard’ on social media as they joked about the prospect of landing Haaland.
Richard Cozens tweeted: “When you pray he’s telling him to come to Arsenal but they’ll both end up at City.”
‘IT WON’T BREAK ME’
Granit Xhaka claims he is unfairly singled out for criticism – despite being sent off NINE TIMES for Arsenal.
The Swiss midfielder has repeatedly fallen out with Arsenal’s fan base, resulting in him losing the club captaincy.
And he came under fire again in December after his latest sending-off against Burnley.
Xhaka, 28, told Blick: “You have to live with criticism in football, but there have to be limits.
“There are other players who get red cards, but they don’t get criticised as much as I do.
“I sometimes feel that with me it is deliberately made into a bigger issue than it really is.
“But it won’t break me. I overcome it, and this time it has made me come back stronger – no doubt to many people’s surprise.”
HAYES PRAISE
Emma Hayes hailed the megabucks deal to air WSL matches on Sky Sports and the BBC as a “big, big day for women’s football”.
The sport’s chiefs sealed a TV agreement with Sky Sports and the BBC worth £24million.
Hayes said: “I honestly feel this is what we’ve been working towards. It’s all been about driving standards so that it can become marketable and that’s where the game has reached.
“This is a real celebration. It is a really big, big day for women’s football.
“I think the fact that all of them are committed to the studio package piece – so that the build-up to games, the analysis of matches and the level of detail
“I think that’s going to be attributed to our sport – is itself an important marker. It really is a big, big day for women’s football.
“I want my son to be sitting at home and looking watching this every week like it’s just normal on the television.
“I think all of you that know me well enough know that I’ve been behind driving this with the rest of the people that are involved in the women’s game from the onset.
“But huge credit to the FA for brokering this and also to clubs across the country for the investment they’re making without revenue coming in first.”
SERGI-GO
Inter Milan have joined the clubs keeping tabs on striker Sergio Aguero’s Manchester City future.
The Argentina star is out of contract in the summer and has yet to be approached over a new deal.
Barcelona and Paris Saint-Germain have an interest although Aguero is also open to staying in England with another top club.
The 32-year-old wants to make up for lost time after spending months sidelined with injury and then coronavirus.
Inter are monitoring his situation and are also interested in Manchester United’s South American forward Edinson Cavani.
Credit: AP
WELL DONE
Salford sacked Richie Wellens after showdown talks with co-owner Gary Neville.
The League Two side fell to another defeat at the weekend that leaves them six points off the play-off places.
Neville, who leads Fergie’s Class of ’92 hierarchy is understood to have called Wellens, 40, into a meeting at 10.30am on Monday morning.
An hour later Wellens, who took Swindon into League One last season but quit to return to his home town of Manchester, became the second Ammies boss to be dumped this season.
A statement on the club’s official website read: “Salford City Football Club has parted company with Richie Wellens by mutual consent.
“We would like to thank Richie for his time and efforts at the Club and wish him well for the future.
“An announcement about a new manager will be made in due course.
“There will be no further comment.”
SunSport exclusively revealed that co-owner Neville had held a huge inquest into Salford’s shaky promotion campaign.
Credit: PA YOU’RE THE DAN
Man City are reportedly set to launch a surprise transfer bid for Southampton striker Danny Ings.
The 28-year-old is entering the final year of his contract at St Mary’s, so Saints could be looking to cash in on him this summer.
And as Man City seek a replacement for the ageing Sergio Aguero, Sky Sports believe Ings could be the man they choose to fill his boots.
Speculation surrounding Aguero’s future at the Etihad continues to ramp up as his place in Pep Guardiola’s side appears to be reaching its expiration date.
Man City’s all-time top scorer has featured in just 14 games this season, scoring three goals.
By contrast, Ings was the joint-second top scorer in the Premier League last season, hitting the back of the net on 22 occasions.
He then began the 2020-21 campaign in a similar vein of form, but has tailed off in the last few months as Ralph Hasenhuttl’s side slide down the table.
Credit: AP WINGING IT
Jadon Sancho has reportedly flown to Dubai ahead of Borussia Dortmund’s Champions League clash with Manchester City to speed up his recovery from a muscle injury.
The Athletic claims Sancho, 20, is desperate to face his old side in the European quarters next month.
But the England winger has been sidelined since March 2 with a muscle problem.
And Sancho has been ruled as just 50/50 to make the first-leg trip to Manchester on April 6.
However, the ace is determined to feature for his side against Pep Guardiola’s quadruple chasers.
And Sancho has now jetted off to the United Arab Emirates to see a specialist after receiving permission from Dortmund.
NINTCHDBPICT000638682537Credit: AFP THAT’S RICH
Chelsea will be ‘scary’ next season if they sign Erling Haaland, believes Micah Richards.
The Blues are among a number of top European sides, including Manchester United, chasing the Norwegian’s signature at the end of the campaign.
Club chiefs are reportedly willing to give the move the green light, IF boss Thomas Tuchel can guide them into next season’s Champions League.
And pundit Richards, 32, believes that they will have it made if they can sign the Borussia Dortmund hotshot.
Following Chelsea’s 2-0 win over Sheffield United, he told the BBC: “I think they’ve got absolutely everything. They’ve sorted their defensive problems.
“The only thing to add that little bit of icing to the cake would be a striker. They’ve put Werner in there, they’ve put Havertz in there.
“It seems like they’ve not really cracked that offensive aspect of the game.
“I’m not going to speculate. If you put Haaland in this team, they’ll be scary next season.”
Credit: EPA LAC OF THE NET
Alexandre Lacazette feels he should have ended the game with two goals as Arsenal drew 3-3 with West Ham.
The striker thought he had bagged a brace only for his first effort to be awarded as a Soucek own goal instead.
He said: “I think the first goal is mine. That’s not nice.
“The second goal, the third goal in the second-half, we came back for the draw.”
Credit: EPA BLEAK FOR BEEK
Mark Hughes believes Manchester United are set to force £40million transfer flop Donny van de Beek out of the club.
The 23-year-old has managed just one goal and one assist in his 27 games for the Red Devils so far this season.
Speaking to Stadium Astro, Hughes said: “Clearly it’s difficult, he hasn’t had enough game time and you can see that in his play.
“He’s wandering and not really getting on the ball, doesn’t know how to affect the game, can’t demand the ball of his team-mates because they’re not quite sure whether or not they have enough confidence in him.
“He looks like a guy who’s wandering around lost on the field. Okay, some of that responsibility he has to take on himself, he has to be more demonstrative, he has to be a key player.
“He’s a big-money signing he’s come from a big club in Ajax so he’s used to being a top player of influence.
“But clearly, since he’s come to United he hasn’t shown anything like what the level he needs to be at to remain a Man United player.
“He can only have so many opportunities, at some point he’s going to have to take them or United will move him on.
“I think they’re edging towards that decision if he’s not careful.”
ONE & ONLY
Jose Mourinho might want to consider wrapping Harry Kane in cotton wool.
After all, without the England striker, Spurs would be in real trouble this season.
Kane, 27, has been involved in a staggering 61.2 per cent of all of Tottenham’s goals this season.
In the Premier League, Spurs have scored 49 times – with Kane involved in a barely-believable 30 of those.
Kane has scored 17 times – the joint-top in the Premier League with Mohamed Salah.
The forward has also added 13 assists – two more than second-placed Kevin De Bruyne such is his importance to the Tottenham team.
According to research from TheseAreTheOdds.com, no other Premier League team has been as dependent on one player as Tottenham are on Kane.
Harry Kane provides nearly two-thirds of all Tottenham’s goals WHAT A COU
Manchester United have been beaten to highly-rated teenage defender Soumaila Coulibaly by Borussia Dortmund.
The Bundesliga side will acquire the 17-year-old in the summer when his contract with Paris Saint-Germain expires.
Speaking to The Mail about his move, Coulibaly was thrilled to be joining the German side.
“It was nice to have so much interest from so many clubs, but I cannot wait to get started with Dortmund,” he said.
“They are a great club with a proven track record of developing some of the best young talents in the world and I aim to do my best for the club and fans.
“I am thankful to my agents [Epic Sports] for helping me in making this move to Dortmund and also to Paris Saint-Germain where I have learnt so much already in my career.”
DEJA BLUE
Manchester United’s new away kit for the 2021-22 has seemingly been leaked online.
Renowned kit-leak website Footy Headlines have shared what they believe to be United’s away strip for next season.
The top will see new sponsor TeamViewer across the front for the first time from January 2022.
NEV-ER SAY NEVER
Jamie Carragher quickly trolled Gary Neville after his club Salford sacked Richie Wellens.
Source: Soccer - thesun.co.uk
